Lauren Montgomery, the director of Paramount and Nickelodeon’s upcoming “Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender” movie, recently took to Instagram (via Games Radar) to announce the end of production on the long-awaited project, which marks the first animated feature in the “Avatar” franchise’s history. But fans won’t be able to see “Aang” in theaters. Paramount announced last December the film’s theatrical release was being pulled in favor of a streaming debut on Paramount+. Montgomery told her followers the movie “deserves to be seen on a big screen.”
“‘Aang’ movie is officially wrapped,” Montgomery wrote. “We screened the final film for the crew and celebrated the end of a four year journey. Now it waits in limbo until its release in October. I’ve never worked on an ‘Avatar’ project that was easy and this was no different. But it was worth it. I’m so proud of everyone who was a part of this and the amazing thing we built together.”
The director continued, “The movie is amazing!!! That might not mean much coming from the director. I might have some bias, but I feel the need to put that out there. The recent decision to move us from theatrical to streaming might give the impression that the quality wasn’t sufficient, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. This movie deserves to be seen on a big screen!!! Can’t wait for you all to see it!”
The movie was originally announced under the title “Aang: The Last Airbender” and had a theatrical release date set for Oct. 10, 2025. In April 2024, Paramount delayed the movie’s release to Jan. 30, 2026. The official title, “The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender,” was announced one year later. A third release delay was announced in May 2025, with “Aang” moving to an Oct. 9, 2026 theatrical release.
The film’s theatrical release was scrapped last December. The decision to move “The Legend of Aang” to Paramount+ was announced in tandem with the greenlighting of a new “Avatar” television show, “Avatar: Seven Havens,” also set to stream on Paramount+. The streamer is home to the original “Avatar” series, plus four seasons of “The Legend of Korra” and the 2010 film “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”
“The Avatar Universe has captivated audiences for two decades, and Paramount+ is proud to be the exclusive streaming home for its beloved animated incarnation,” said Jane Wiseman, head of originals for Paramount+. “‘The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender’ and ‘Avatar: Seven Havens’ represent the next evolution of storytelling from Avatar Studios — bringing together remarkable talent both in front of and behind the camera to deliver the epic adventures and emotional depth fans have come to expect. These additions, alongside ‘The Legend of Korra’ and the original series, solidify Paramount+ as the destination for the animated Avatar Universe.”
Dave Bautista, Steven Yeun and Eric Nam headline the voice cast for “The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender.”